Check-protecting means



R. E. BAUDER V 2,124,535

CHECK PROTECTING MEANS JyI 25, w38.

Filed April 2, 1957 EQ? -c-Zddsr Patented July 26,' 1938 UNITI-:o STATES CHECK-PROTECTING MEANS Raymond E. Bauder, Chicago, Ill. Application April 2, 1937, Serial No. 134,653

8 Claims.

The invention relates to check protecting means of the general type in which the check is provided with an amount-indicating area to be torn away according to the amount of the check, and in which a tearing strip is provided under which to insert a desired the strip constituting a guide for use in tearing said portion from the check, leaving the remaining portion of the amount-indicating area` attached to the check. I am aware that devices of this general type have heretofore been provided, but the present invention aims to provide a new and improved means for attaining the desired en-d. One of the foremost objects of the invention is to provide a novel construction in which the tearing strip is secured to the bound stack of checks and stubs and permanently located upon the uppermost stub at the bound end thereof, in position for use whenever required.

A further object is to secure vthe tearing strip to the check-book by the same binding means which secures the stub l Another object is to make novel provision for limiting the insertion tearing strip.

Yet another o-bject is to make novel provision to facilitate ejection of the torn off check portion from beneath the tearing strip.

A still further object is to provide novel means to prevent slipping of the check while tearing the desired portion thereof.

Yet another object is to provide exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet convenient and desirable means for attaining the required results.

With the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying draw' ing.

Fig. 1 is a top plan View showing a check-book provided with the check-protecting means, the front cover being removed. f

Fig. 2 is an enlarged edge Viewrpaltly in longitudinal section showing the amount-indicating portion of a check inserted under the tearing strip.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the check-book and the tearing strip in readiness for tearing the desired portion of the amountindicating area from the check.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tearing strip.

'I'he construction shown in the drawing may be considered as preferred and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding, however,

portion of said area,

of the check under the that variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

A check-book IB is shown having the usual bound stack of checks II` and stubs I2 integrally joined to each other andY having a perforated 5 line of juncture I3 to facilitate tearing of any check from its stub. Thestubs I 2 are bound together by staples or theY like I4 and these staples may also secure the front and back covers I5 and I6 of the book. 10

Immediately to the right of the tear line I3, I provide each check II with an amount-indicating area I1 preferably consisting of a column of numbers printed on the check adjacent the `per-- forated line I3. A tearing strip I8 of metal, l5 Celluloid, or other suitable material is provided, under which to insert a desired portion of the area I'I' of-any check after detaching said check from its stub, for holding said portion while severing it from the check, said tearing strip I8 20 being provided with a relatively long longitudinal edge portion I9, with an oblique edge `portion Illa.4 extending inwardly from one end of said edge portion I9, andwith a relatively short edge portion I9Vb at the inner end of said portion I9a. 'I'he 25 edge portions I9 and I9a are preferably turned laterally and sharpened as shown, or serrated if desired. and they serve to hold the check to be severedwhen `pushed against the same, and to sever the desired portion of the area I'I from said 30 check when the latter is pulled upwardly and toward the user.

The tearing strip I8 is secured to the .bound stack and is permanently located upon the left end of vthe uppermost stub, the binding means I4 35 being preferably used in securing said tearing strip, although other attaching means could, of course, be employed if desired.A This Vtearing strip I8 is provided with a plurality of downwardly stamped stops 20 to limit. the insertion 40 of the check under said tearing strip as seen in IFig. 2, and said tearing strip is also'preferably provided with a plurality of transverse slots 2'I or with other openings through which air may be blown from the users mouth to facilitate re-` moval of a previously torn off check portionfrom beneath said tearing strip.v The stops 20 are so located as to prevent insertion of the check under the edge portion I9b of the strip I8, asgsuch insertion would interfere with proper movement of the check when tearing.

When the check-book and the tearing strip I8 are being secured together, the pressure applied by the stapling, binding, or paper cutting machine forces said tearing strip I8 somewhat into 55 22'in said stub, in

2 Y Y, the uppermost stub I2nproviding a shallow recess which recess said strip I8 is seated. The downturned edge portions I9 and I9a depress the underlying portions of the aforesaid stub and a number of the subjacent stubs,

forming grooves in which Ysaid, down-.turned edge portions are normally received, onejof said Vgrooves being shown 2D-formsockets 24 in which they are received.V

VVcannot pass under said at 23. Similarly, the stops When the checleand the tearing stripV` I8Y are relatively angled as' seen inFig. 2.to'provide anV Y which Vto insert'the intervening space 25 into area I1 of a torn-off check,vthe stops 2|) do'not entirely leave the sockets sured when inserting a stripv I8 occurs, however, the downeturnedledge' portions I9 and and cannot interfere with insertion of the check. When the checksland'ithe tearing stripv I8 are restoredl into substantiallyI parallel relation with Yeach; other and` saidlstrip; vIl! is pressed, downwardly. upon the: inserted endf of the check, the edge portions ISI'and IB? slightly force the check into thegrooves; 23,1 Veffectively holdingv said insertedY endY of the: checl against. slipping while pullingthe checkzupwardly and. toward theuser rto seversaid insertedlrend fromv the check;

To facultar@ the renuvangung. 0f the 'checks Y amount-indicating again'. invitedtothe possibility lofmaliingvariablowing air from?hi'sernouth` through .theiopenings 2|'. These openings may wellextend inwardly to such an ext'entithat theuser mayinsert 'a p-in or the :like through any of.A them and thereby push v against the inner/edge of the'itorn-off'check portion, toV remove itini'this wayiid'esired'.

Forthel average y numbers on the area- I1, will suffice. V.Howevergifor larger' amounts, two or more' columns could ofcourse be employed, one column yor another.beingacompletely torn oi if necessary before sotearing as to indicatel the amount of the check. 1 )It will be seen from the .foregoing that novel provision has been madeffor: carrying out the objects. ofthe-invention, and while the details disclosed are preferably. followed,y attention is tionsv withinf"r the scopeof the invention as claimed.

k/While Iliavev herein V`referred to thefstrip :I8 as course cut vthe check to'laflarge extentwhensufi cientlysharpenedor serrated.` l VIclaim:

24 and it is thus in# Y check, thatY said check stops and entertoo rar..YV Y When this relative angling of checks and tearing I9ab entirely leave the grooves 23..

check-book',Y one column of" 2,124,535 Y l Y 1. A check-book having a bound stack ofV checks and stubs, the left ends of the checks being joined to the right ends of the stubs Yalong weakened Atear lines to allow any check to be detached from its stub in the usual way, ea h check being providedwith a right of its tear line to beY torn away according to the amount of the4 checkk after detaching the check from its stub, and Van elongated tearing Vstriprsecured to said stack andr permanently located upon theupperrnost stub for use as a guide when tearing said indicating portion of any detached check, said tearing strip having a free right edge under which to insert said indicating Y portion. Y Y

A2..A structure as specified inY claim 1; said tearing strip same means which'binds said stack.

3. A structure as specified in claim l; said tearing strip being provided with a downwardly Vprojecting stop to limit theinsertion of the check thereunder.v

la Af'structurer'as specified in claimY said tearingV strip being provided with an opening through which the user-may blow air from his mouthto. loosen4 and facilitate removal of ai previously torn offy check portion;`- y' e 5./A, structure'as specied in claim 1; said tearing stripl being provided with a downwardly projecting stop'to limit insertion of the check being secured to said Astack by the printed indicating portion to the under' said strip, said uppermost of the stubsl Y having a socket receivin'gr'saidy stop to'v prevent the 'check from* passing. under said stop whenV Y inserting it.

6. A- structure as Yspecified .in claim. Yl; said tearing strip havinga free downturned cutting edge under which to insert said indicating por-Vv tion',said uppermostiof theY stubs being providedv witha vgrooveiin'to'which said cutting edge forces the check when using. the device, preventing slippage. f

7. A structure Vasl specified in; claim l; 'j Y' tearing strip being throu'ghwhich the user may blow air fromr his mouth to loosen and `facilitate removal o Ya previously torn oi check'portiomsaid"opening give access'tothe inner' p being so positioned as to edge ofthe torn Aoit check, portioniif it'be de.-4

sired to push it out with'.v the aid:V oi. azpin or the` like. V l 8.,.A'check1book havinga stack of checks and provided with an opening stubs andY a back cover bound together, theleft ends of the` checksbeing joinedto the right ends of the stubsalong weakenedtear lines to allow any checkt()` be detached usualV way, each check being. printed indicating portion tothe right of its tear line to be torn away. according to the amount of the check afterdetaching the check from its stub, and an elongated tearing strip secured touppermost stub for said indicatingY portion vsaid tearing strip having a free right'edge under which' to insertsaid indicating portion'fsaid back cover having a hinge line under said vtearing strip forV the purpose set forth. l

RAYMOND E. BAUDER.

from its stub in'the provided with as (said stack and'permanently"located uponY the use as a guide when tearingv ofv any detached check,Y 

